CMS seeks new CTO

By Aisha Chowdhry

Jul 21, 2016

The Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is looking for a new CTO.

A job posting that expires on Aug. 21 invites applications for a CTO job at the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight in Bethesda, Md. The position reports to the chief operating officer and works closely with Director and Marketplace CEO Kevin Counihan.

A big part of the job is keeping HealthCare.gov running smoothly, according to the job posting. The CTO "will be responsible for developing and implementing a technology strategy to support [the center's] mission and the health insurance exchange marketplaces."

The successful applicant will also drive "the marketplace IT resource review process to ensure efficient and effective use of all IT resources."

Inspector general reports published earlier this year confirmed that leadership failures and uncoordinated procurement efforts contributed to the botched launch of HealthCare.gov, which serves as the front door for the health insurance marketplaces.

Additionally, the job posting calls for the CTO to take a high-level role in innovation, as other HHS CTOs have done. Bryan Sivak, who stepped down as CTO at HHS last year, played a key role in the development of the department's Buyers Club, which shares institutional wisdom on procurement, and the Entrepreneurs-in-Residence Program, which taps private-sector developers to work at HHS for a year on high-profile technology goals.